Rivera, Geraldo (1943–)

Gerald Miguel “Geraldo” Rivera, a television journalist, an entertainer, and a talk show host, is best known for sensationalistic reporting and his tendency to include himself in stories. He has aired investigative pieces about abuse of the mentally ill, war coverage of fighting in Afghanistan, and talk show topics such as “Men in Lace Panties and the Women Who Love Them.” He has also taken occasional acting roles (movies: Natural Born Killers, The Bonfire of the Vanities; occasional TV appearances as himself). He has earned numerous honors, including 10 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award, but his approach has become a target for comedians and critics on the problems of sensationalistic journalism.

Rivera was born on July 4, 1943, in New York City. He graduated from Arizona State University and received a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. In 1970, his work as the attorney for some New York Puerto Ricans led to television interviews that became his break into TV journalism. He joined WABC-TV in New York as a reporter, eventually working on both Good Morning America and 20/20. In 1972, Rivera won his first Emmy for a story on the abuse of patients at Willowbrook State School, a New York institution for the mentally ill.

He stayed with ABC until 1985 but was fired after complaining that the network refused to air his story on the relationship between John Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The next year, he produced a 2-hour, live, syndicated special called The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault in which he opened an empty vault found in Capone's former headquarters.

Rivera hosted a daytime talk show, Geraldo (1987 to 1998), known for theatrics and controversial guests. One episode included the “Men in Lace Panties…” story. Another led to an on-air brawl with neo-Nazis. Twice he had plastic surgery on the show. Meanwhile, he also produced a series of prime-time specials on Satanism.

His 1991 autobiography, Exposing Himself, discussed his sexual encounters (most notably with Bette Midler). The book became a source of news itself.

In 1994, he signed with CNBC to do Rivera Live. Three years later, he became a reporter for NBC, covering the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

Rivera joined Fox News Channel in 2001 and became a war correspondent in Afghanistan. His tenure was marked by two controversies—an inaccurate report that he was at the scene of a friendly fire incident and his reporting on a military operation while embedded with a U.S. military unit. In the latter incident, he drew a map in the sand on camera, describing the planned movements of the unit.

He later hosted At Large with Geraldo Rivera for Fox and the syndicated Geraldo at Large. He obtained an exclusive interview with Michael Jackson before the pop star went on trial on child molestation charges. Rivera said he believed Jackson was innocent and promised to shave his mustache if he were wrong—again inserting himself into a news story.